The co-founders & directors

Jeremy Taylor

Co-founder and Chairman of the Board

Jeremy worked with the British Council and then as a teacher in England, Kenya and Trinidad after completing his MA in English at the University of Cambridge. He then embarked on a career as a freelance journalist and commentator, contributing to a wide range of media including the BBC and the London Times. He edited the Caribbean Chronicle and BWIA Sunjet before co-founding MEP in 1990 with Joanne Mendes. Some of his articles and broadcasts were collected in Going to Ground (Prospect Press, 1994), and he wrote a guide to Trinidad and Tobago, Masquerade: the Visitor’s Introduction to Trinidad & Tobago, for Macmillan (1986, 2nd edition 1991). He was the founding editor of Discover Trinidad & Tobago, ENERGY Caribbean and Caribbean Beat, on which he remains a consulting editor, and currently serves as Managing Editor for select client projects like CONTACT Magazine. Despite semi-retirement, he continues to enjoy writing and editing work – if only to “keep the brain ticking over” – and ever remains a threat to cakes and ice-creams left over after staff functions.

Joanne Mendes

Co-founder and Finance Director

Joanne worked at AS Bryden and Geddes Grant/Huggins for over 20 years before co-founding MEP with Jeremy Taylor in 1990 — with her selling advertising, and Jeremy working on the editorial. A founder member and still the production manager of the Marionettes Chorale, Joanne is a passionate about arts, culture, philanthropy — and property management! Affectionately referred to as “de money lady” by her staff, she relishes a challenge, and seldom emerges anything but victorious. Pistachios and Turkish Delight are effective means of winning some measures of favour when needed.

Mary Joanna Marsden

Executive Director

Mary Jo loves to work — and to run! New ideas and new opportunities excite her. Change Management is her passion, as is helping to create new organisations, or working to help existing ones move in new directions. She has worked extensively as CEO and President of some of Trinidad & Tobago’s top companies, and is equally committed to volunteering with NGOs which promote the economic, educational, and physical development of women. At MEP, she quite possibly has taken the top spot in terms of Coke Zero consumption…

Caroline Taylor

Managing Editor and Board Director

Caroline is a staff writer and web editor for Caribbean Beat, managing editor (print and web) for Discover Trinidad & Tobago, and serves on the Board of MEP. Apart from her editorial and managerial responsibilities, she ensures that everyone benefits from much-needed puppy therapy whenever things get hectic. Caroline also moonlights in the performing arts, and does freelance and volunteer work, time permitting. She is currently trying to master unplugging from her “iLife” (no trademark infringement intended). This remains an iWork in progress…

Susan Dore

Director

Susan David Dore was born under the sun sign of Leo. She retired from Republic Bank in 2002 as General Manager, Human Resources after 38 years of unbroken service. She has been involved with the Marionettes Chorale since 1965, and continues on its executive management team, while also working with the Living Water Community. She has served on the MEP Board since inception, including as Chair, and her infectious (scandalous) laughter is always a welcome addition to the office and to company functions.

The GM

Halcyon Salazar

General Manager

Halcyon joined MEP in 2010 and has extensive experience and training in communications and management, and worked for many years as assistant general manager at the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. She has also worked with Pier 1, GEM Radio, Music Radio 97, and radio stations in Florida, USA. An animal lover like most of her staff, she’s passionate about health, wellness, culture and philanthropy. She’s also responsible for smuggling sweets and cakes into the office, with or without gluten…

The team

Evelyn Chung

Business Development Manager

Evelyn is the business development manager (Tobago & International Sales) for Caribbean Beat, CONTACT Magazine, and Discover Trinidad & Tobago. Originally from Venezuela, she has lived in T&T for over 20 years, working both in the publishing industry, and as a scuba instructor and director at the dive shop (Undersea Tobago) that she co-founded with her husband, Derek. Life is always spicier whenever Evelyn can make it over to the Trinidad office from her base in Tobago.

Tracy Farrag

Business Development Representative

Tracy is a business development representative (Trinidad Sales) for Caribbean Beat andCONTACT Magazine. Long before joining the team at MEP, she had already had a long-standing relationship with Beat. As a former flight attendant and an avid traveller, she never leaves a Caribbean Airlines flight without the latest edition. Tracy also works as a film producer, and has an irrepressible enthusiasm for life and country. She was last seen making room for her growing Caribbean Beat collection…

Shelly-Ann Inniss

Senior Editorial & Design Assistant

After starting out her working life in finance departments, Shelly decided to pursue her dream to be a writer and media practitioner. She’s a Barbadian adventure seeker at heart, and often galavants off the beaten path. She works as a writer and editorial/design assistant for all MEP’s publications, as well as business development manager (Barbados) for Caribbean Beat. She enjoys copious amounts of Zumba and the occasional rum cake. She also makes some very decadent baked goods, with a deceptively health twist!

Nicholas Laughlin

Managing Editor, Caribbean Beat

Nicholas is the editor of Caribbean Beat, and editor of The Caribbean Review of Books (CRB) (formerly published by MEP). He is also one of the administrators of the contemporary arts space Alice Yard and the Bocas Lit Fest (The Trinidad & Tobago Literary Festival). His reviews, essays, and poems have been published in various periodicals. He has also edited CLR James’ Letters from London, VS Naipaul’s Between a Father and Son: Family Lettersand The Strange Years of My Life, a book of poetry. He disputes the allegation that he will not drive cars because he does not trust how they move. This dispute is in abeyance.

Mark-Jason Ramesar

Business Development Representative

Mark-Jason is a business development representative (Trinidad Sales) for Caribbean Beat and CONTACT Magazine. He has years of experience in business development and marketing in the information and communication technology industry, working with market leaders like Fujitsu, bMobile and Digi-data. He has a passion for the outdoors and is an avid collector of outdoor gear. In his spare time, he challenges himself to explore various hiking trails in Trinidad or looks for a great fishing spot to throw a line.

Jacqueline Smith

Production & Distribution Manager

Jacqueline manages production and distribution at MEP, together with some administrative and accounting duties, after working at Neal & Massy Holdings for over 15 years. She is also a Music Festival-winning singer. She claims to bring some sanity and stability to MEP’s motley crew, and certainly keeps everyone in line. So this isn’t too much in dispute.

Kevon Webster

Graphic Designer & Layout Artist

Kevon is a design and layout artist at MEP, having worked and trained at Sandpiper Publishing. Apart from maintaining the male to female ratio in the office, he also helps keep the MEP websites up to date, particularly Caribbean Beat. Ever the helpful colleague, he is usually the one called on for help when something electronic isn’t working or for the more glamourous task of reaching something on the high shelf.

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